Frame support



Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRAME SUPPORT Burton O. Walmsley, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 8, 1941, Serial N o. 392,483

2 Claims.

My invention is a support for articles like a mirror or picture frame, and such like articles.

The primary object of my device is a substantially permanent support for various things that are to be hung from a wall.

A further object is a supporting device which automatically locks a mirror or frame against any ordinary condition of displacement.

A further object is such a device as maintains the object hung at a fixed level so that in any removal of the same from this suspended position without skill or adjustment it is capable of being rehung at a definite xed level irrespective of the skill of one handling same. Especially is this of valuable moment in hotels, places of art exhibition and that class of places where a certain protection is necessary against the object being removed by unauthorized persons.

An embodiment of my device is shown in the attached drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the member normally intended to attach to the wall.

Fig. 2 is the member which attaches to the object to be suspended.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical central View of a mirror frame mounted on the wall.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View showing a mirror or picture frame on the wall.

As illustrated: 5 designates the basic frame which is an'elongated substantially narrow strip bearing holes 6 for direct attachment to a wall or supporting medium. The portion 'I is a flat elongated surface, ordinarily of metal. 8 is an upward bend of 'I providing for a space to produce a certain amount of resiliency. This upturned portion has a bead 9 extending the length of the member 8, this bead 9 terminating in a lip 9. I is to designate the complementary member attachable to the object to be hung, which said member I9 is an elongated metallic strip bearing a flat plate I2 punctured by a series of holes II for attachment to a framed object. This member is bent at an oblique point I3 having thereon a bead I4 operating in the opposite direction from the bead 9 on member 1. The eX- tension from this bead is straight and substantially parallel with the body I2 of the member I0 and is designated as I4. 'I'he bead I4 is adapted to interlock the bead 9 by the weight of the object supporting it. I designates an ordinary method of attachment to a wall and I6 is a suggested method of a rivet or similar attachment for attaching to the object supported.

It will be readily seen that the ordinary weight of an object such as a mirror or picture will of itself practically interlock the two members, and it will also be observed that it is very easy to slide them lengthwise to separate the ob ject from its support. It will be further seen that the object supported will always be in a level position and no matter how many times it is removed the most unskilled hands will iind the replacement level. il is a sectional piece of wall and I8 indicates a common order of frame: and it will be further observed that the member I9 can just as easily be attached to the upper part of the frame if one wants to have the picture hang closer to the wall.

As shown, it provides the means of tting the object hung at a slight angle which is usually more desirable than to have the object hung practically flat against the wall.

I claim:

1. A device for the purposes described consisting of two elongated metal strips; one of said strips having a flat body adapted to be attached to a fixed object, its lower longitudinal edge for- Wardly bent upwardly into a semi-resilient chan-A nel with an outwardly pressed longitudinal bead on the bent-up portion and terminating in an outwardly extending lip; the other of said strips comprising a flat longitudinal body portion adapted to be attached to an object to be supported thereby, its upper longitudinal edge turned primarily obliquely outward bearing a longitudinal inwardly pressed bead adapted to automatically interlock with the bead on the xed object strip against accidental displacement.

2. An article of manufacture for supporting hanging objects consisting of two elongated metal strips, one of said strips being a basic strip for fixed attachment to a permanent body having a longitudinal lower edge upturned forming a semi-resilient channel carrying a longitudinal outwardly pressed bead, the other strip being a free strip attachable to an object to be hung having an elongated body with its upper longitudinal edge turned obliquely outward and downward in semi-resilient form carrying a longitudinal inwardly pressed bead adapted to interlock in parallel horizontally slidable position with the basic strip.

BURTON O. WALMSLEY. 

